: Damon Nolan's (#26) 95-yard kick-off return in the final period sealed the Nighthawks' first round playoff victory against the Eisenhower Eagles. M...

High school football playoffs: Round One results

Friday, November 16th, 2012Issue 46, Volume 16.

Ten teams went into the first round, seven remain. A divisionís only at-large team upsets the #1 seed, a third-place in league team defeats a league champion, all four Sunbelt teams win, filling a spot in every quarterfinal game of the Central Division bracket, two Southwestern League teams advance, one team gets eliminated in the second round.

The dual-threat Aztecs came out hard and fast, demonstrating their athleticism by covering 80 yards in 30 seconds and scoring the first touchdown of the game.

Running back Braden Bateman (12 carries, 98 yards) scored on a 45-yard run. Seven minutes later, following a lost fumble by Limahai Hifo, QB Joe Castelli (16-of-24 for 164 yards, 3 TDís) found Garin Mesarch in the end zone with a two-yard pass to cap their second drive of the opening period and secure a 13-0 lead over the Central Divisionís #2-seed.

The Patriots finally responded with a one-yard rushing touchdown from Sione Takitaki (18 carries, 92 yards, 3 TDs) to complete the first of their long punishing drives. Seven minutes, 12 plays and 86 yards later, QB Mat Bradshaw (6-of-8, 86 yards) completed another drive by hitting Evan Rodriguez for a six-yard score. Logan Netterís PAT gave Heritage the edge 14-13. With less than a minute left, Bradshaw threw long for Marvin Hifo for his only catch and a 39-yard score to give Heritage a halftime lead of 21-13 and 21 unanswered points in the quarter.

In the third quarter, Palm Desert came within one point, 21-20, on a 5-yard pass to Kyle Kabeary (who also kicked the PAT). Patriotsí star running back Jamal Morrow, who has been nursing a knee injury for the past three games, did not enter the game until late in the second quarter but made his presence felt with a 42-yard TD scamper in the final minute of the third quarter. Despite limited playing time, Morrow ended with 249 yards rushing on 20 carries.

Two minutes later, with 10:33 left in the game, the Aztecsí Castelli found Kabeary (11 catches, 93 yards) again for a nine-yard TD pass and Castelliís third passing TD of the game. The two-point conversion pass to Jack Drinkwater tied the game at 28. The Patriotsí ground game showed plenty of muscle and stamina as they put together a time-consuming eight-play, 72-yard drive with Takitaki diving in from the one. The Patriotsí defense forced a three-and-out and the ground-pounding offense took over for another five-minute drive. Takitaki again scored, leaving only 33 seconds on the clock and sealing the win.

The 11-1 Patriots travel to face the Arlington Lions (7-4, 4-2) Inland Valley League #3 who upset the Mt. Baldy League Champion Chino 29-7. The Lions took advantage of six Chino turnovers as running back Ruben Kelly ran for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Arlington is a running team averaging over 230 yards/game on the ground and only 50 passing. Kelly is a 1400-yard rusher with 13 of his teamís 19 rushing TDs. Daniel Castro (81 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 interception), Devone Stokes (75 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries), and Lavell Thomas (62 tackles, 7 interceptions) lead their defense. Castro is also their leading receiver.

If Heritage can contain Kelly in the running game, this should be a solid win for the Patriots and their ground and pound offense. The semi-final match up will feature the winner of the Kaiser vs. Temescal Canyon game.

SBL #2 Tigers stomp out

Yellowjackets, 55-7

The Elsinore Tigers (7-3, 4-1) Sunbelt League runner-up stomped out the visiting Colton Yellowjackets (3-7), Sunkist League #3, 55-7 to advance to the second round of CIF-SS.

Stubbs scored on a two-yard run on the opening drive two minutes into the game. Coltonís star running back Jordan Ahíhoni (158 yards on 20 carries) ripped off a 58-yard run for a first-and-goal inside the 10. The Tigersí goal line stand stuffed Ahíhoniís final attempt at the Ĺ yard line. Wilson then engineered a 99-yard drive with Pico scoring on a 16-yard run.

Coltonís only touchdown came two minutes into the second quarter on a 43-yard run by Ahíhoni. Elsinore answered with three scores (Stubbsí 27-yard run, Terry Adamsí 8-yard reverse run, and a Wilson to Harris 36-yard TD pass) in the second quarter to lead 35-7 at the half. Adamsí score was set up by a Noah Paculba interception returned to the 16.

In the second half, Wilson took advantage of a Colton fumble with a 14-yard TD pass to Anthony Sevilla. His second TD pass to Harris was for 25 yards. Sophomore Jacob Guglielmana ran in the final score from 27 yards out.

Trivia note: Colton had beaten Elsinore in the 1933 CIF playoffs for the Minor Division title 13-7. Their split team also won the Northern Division title that same week.

Qtr Final Playoff Game:

Elsinore faces defending CIF Central Division Champion Moreno Valleyís Rancho Verde (8-3, 5-1). The #4-seed Mustangs stomped Ontario Chaffey 56-6, scoring four quick touchdowns out of the gate. University of Washington recruit and the top receiver in the state Demoreíea Stringfellow scored on the very first play with a 60-yard TD reception from QB Malcolm Hill. The Mustangs had lost 46-42 to Elsinore in the first week of pre-season after having lost a large group of experienced seniors to graduation. Pico and Stubbs had combined for over 300 yards of rushing offense in the win. This game will come down to defense: Rancho Verdeís ability to stop the Tigersí run game and Elsinoreís ability to pressure Hill and defend Stringfellow. Elsinore will advance to the third round to face the winner of Paloma Valley vs. Colony.

The Titansí and QB Sean Trimble executed the flex option offense to dominance, accumulating 309 yards on 41 carries (three turnovers). The undefeated Desert Valley League Champion Indians were unable to adjust as Trimbleís decision-making took advantage of the Indiansí defense. Trimble distributed the ball, rushed for 85 yards and threw for a touchdown in the upset.

The Indians settled for a field goal in the first quarter for the gameís first score. Temescal Canyonís Jacob Zinda then ran for a 55-yard touchdown to complete a three-play 78-yard drive. Temescal Canyonís next drive ‚Äď 53 yards in eight plays ‚Äď culminated in a 20-yard pass from Trimble (5-of-7, 60 yds) to Steven Busse (one catch) to make the score 13-3 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Trimble led another eight-play 80-yard drive for the final score; Jacob Hetland (six carries, 54 yards) scored from four yards out. The defenses then held for both teams.

Qtr Final Playoff Game:

The Titans (6-5) will travel to Fontana to face the Kaiser Cats (10-1, 4-1) Sunkist League runner-ups who just got by JW North 14-7. The Cats won the defensive struggle on a double-pass play from tight end Anthony Saenz to WR David Miller for a 40-yard touchdown in the third quarter and a huge third-and-goal interception by Angel Hernandez with four minutes left in the game shut down the North offense. Kaiser held North to just 120 yards rushing. Kaiserís only loss was to #1-seed Summit 29-7.

The Catsí defense has recorded three shutouts in the last five games. They have outscored their opponents 337 to 103. If the Titansí defense can stop running backs Marquette Washington and Taleeb Isom, and their offensive line handles All-CIF linebacker Kevin Trujillo and Saenz (the other inside linebacker), the Titans option offense should record big yards and get them to the semifinals against league rival Heritage.

At-Large Wildcats upset #1 Skyhawks, 22-3

The Wildcats (7-3, 2-3) Sunbelt League At-Large traveled to Fontana and upset the #1-seed and last yearís CIF Eastern Division Champion Summit Skyhawks (9-1, 5-0) 22-3. The Skyhawks had eliminated the Wildcats in the first round last year 26-18.

The Skyhawks had only allowed one touchdown in its previous six games, shutting out five of those opponents while scoring 273 points and rushing for over 2000 yards on the season. They were undefeated in league play and had lost only one game all year. Paloma Valley had lost three of its five league games and received the Central Divisionís only at-large berth. This was a match up between the last seed and the top-seed.

David (Solis) scored four direct hits to topple Goliath (#1-seed Summit) and lead the Wildcats into the quarterfinals. The Wildcats defense also forced three turnovers, sacked the Summit QB nine times and squashed the Skyhawksí vaunted rushing attack, holding them to a first quarter field goal and -20 yards rushing on the night.

Solis (175 yards on 36 carries) scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Solisí first score ‚Äď a one-yard run in the second quarter ‚Äď came after Summitís field goal in the first quarter, finishing off a nine-play 80-yard drive. He also ran in the conversion for an 8-3 Wildcatsí lead at halftime.

Paloma took the opening drive of the second half 80 yards in 13 plays with Solis scoring from 12 yards out for a 15-3 lead. After trading possessions, Solis carried seven consecutive times on a 74-yard drive, scoring from the 4 to cement the upset victory.

Wildcatsí senior Charlie Wallace notched three sacks, Matt Orzech had four to go along with his seven tackles. London Miller recovered a fumble and had an interception.

Summitsí rushing leader Justin Strong had eight yards on nine carries. University of Oregon-recruit defensive end 6í3" Keenen Sykes had seven solo tackles and two sacks. Seventeen penalties (115 yards) did not help the Skyhawks.

Qtr Final Playoff Game:

The Wildcats (8-3) will travel to Ontario to face the Colony Titans (7-4, 5-1) Mt. Baldy League runner-up who beat LaQuinta, Desert Valley League #2 27-14. The Titansí run game features senior Samjie Grant, a 1300-yard rusher with 17 touchdowns; he also is their second-leading passer with a 75% completion rate, 230 yards and four touchdowns.

Jr QB Jonhnathan Trucks has thrown for 937 yards and eight touchdowns. They have only been intercepted once. The Titans defense is led by Alvin Aneke (57 tackles, 8 sacks), Bobby Hammond (75 tackles, 11.5 sacks), Nathan Quinines (54 tackles, 7 sacks) and Lavontae Lee (4 interceptions). If the Wildcats can stop Grant, they will move on to face either Elsinore or Rancho Verde in the semifinals round.

Vista Murrieta recovered the opening onside kick at the 49 and four plays later speedy running back Bezhawn Hill scored on a 19-yard dash. The Huskies went three-and-out and Broncosí QB Nick Stevens led a seven-play 70-yard drive that he finished with a 15-yard scamper of his own to make the score 13-0 with six minutes left in the first quarter.

The Huskies scored late in the second quarter; QB Garrett Fonseca (8-of-14, 52 yards) spearheaded an eight-minute, 16-play drive that went 80 yards with the help of a roughing the passer call on a failed third down conversion. Benny Garcia (27 carries, 81 yards) scored on a one-yard dive over tackle. It was their only score of the night.

Stephens answered for the Broncos with a 37-yard pass to Colin Baker to make the score 20-6 at halftime. Stevens scored again in the third quarter on an 8-yard keeper. Aaron Ruth ran in a 4-yard score and then kicked the extra point for the 34-6 win.

Stevens threw for 112 yards and rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on the night. Hill rushed for 106 yards and one TD on ten carries. USC-recruit Suía Cravens did not suit up for the first half due to a shoulder strain sustained in the Chaparral game.

Qtr Final Playoff Game:

The Broncos (11-0) will face the Norco Cougars (7-4) Big VIII #3 who beat the Citrus League Champions Redlands East Valley 50-22. REV had knocked Norco out of playoffs in the first round last year 20-15. Norco senior running back Joseph Aleigbe rushed for 144 of the Cougars 207 yards and one TD on 14 carries in the first half alone.

The Broncos should have little trouble advancing to the semifinal round to face the winner of the Rancho Cucamonga vs. Charter Oak game.

SWL#2 Nighthawks outlast Eagles, 35-27

The Murrieta Valley Nighthawks (9-1, 4-1) Southwestern League #2 outlasted the relentless pounding of the Rialto Eisenhower Eagles (7-2, 4-1) Citrus Belt League #2 and came away with a 35-27 victory.

The Eaglesí Trevon Island (7 carries, 87 yards) rushed 70 yards for the first touchdown of the game. MVís Blake (9-of-14, 146 yards) answered with a 10-yard pass to Aaron Paisley (two catches, 45 yards). The Eagles drove 70 yards in 10 plays with Jerrion Burton scoring on a 5-yard run. Blake drove the Nighthawks down the field to tie the score at 14 at the end of the first quarter with a 33-yard pass to Alex Montion.

Blakeís 18-yard bootleg score at the 10:12 mark gave the Nighthawks the lead, but the Eagles drove 80 yards in 13 plays to tie the game at 21 on Tawon Greenís eight-yard run with 2:58 left in the half. After a quick three-and-out by the Nighthawks, the Eagles started another drive with two minutes left in the half; on third down QB Marquane Harris (5-of-12, 116 yards) threw deep for a sure TD to Burton who had beaten Damon Nolan. But the diminutive Nolan came up big, recovering just enough to tip the ball away.

After three consecutive stops, Murrieta Valley Coach Greg Irelandís fourth-and-goal gamble ended up with Jacob Augustin (23 carries, 105 yards) scoring up the middle for a 28-21 lead with 2:49 left in the third.

The Eaglesí Harris hit Burton for 24 yards and his second score of the night, but the Nighthawksí "Mr. Everywhere" safety Terin Solomon blocked the PAT attempt to deny the tie, 28-27.

Nolan took the ensuing kickoff and returned it 95 yards for the proverbial "final nail in the coffin."

Despite giving up huge chunks of yardage on multi-play drives (402 total yards), the Nighthawks defense came up big when it counted, forcing a turnover on downs twice at critical times, including the Eaglesí final drive of the night.

Qtr Final Playoff Game:

The Nighthawks (10-1) host the Corona Centennial Huskies (10-1, 5-0) Big VIII League Champions, #11-ranked team in the state who are coming off of a first round win 47-21 over Los Osos. QB Robert Webber completed 13-of-19 passes for 249 yards and two TDs. Tre Watson rushed for 162 yards on 10 carries, scoring twice. Austen Renken also scored twice rushing for 72 yards on 11 carries. The Huskies rolled up 325 rushing yards in the win.

Centennial is averaging over 530 yards/gm: 260 on the ground and 270 in the air. Webber has thrown for over 2500 yards and 24 TDs with only one interception. They have two 1000 yard rushers in Renken and Watson. Barry Ware (692 yards, 9 TDs), Chase Krivashei (739 yards, 5 TDs) and Ryan Pescarella (382 yards, 7 TDs) lead a multi-talented receiving corps. Centennial is on a 10-game win streak, averages 52 points per game and has outscored their opponents 569 to 258. Their defense has recorded 21 sacks, nine interceptions and 16 fumble recoveries with seven players over 50 tackles each.

This is the biggest test yet for the Nighthawks with so many weapons to stop. The winner will face the survivor of the Uplands vs. Redlands game.

Chaparral was responsible for Oceansideís (9-1) only loss and lost to PAC-5 powerhouse Tesoro by only three points; however they were coming off of a two-game losing streak in league play and league-leading running back Justin Harris had suffered a late season minor injury, limiting his play. Charter Oak was riding a seven-game win streak and was at full strength.

Chaparralís defense sacked Brown four times in the first half, two by Justin Holt who also recovered a fumble at the Charger 16. Just before the end of the half, the Chargersí Jack Schneider kicked a 24-yard field goal. Despite the Pumasí change in starting QB from Kellen Mataafa (12-of-20, 130 yards) to all-around athlete Chris Stratton, the Chargersí defense was not fooled and shut out the Pumas 10-0 in the first half, holding the explosive offense to 93 total yards.

In the second half Vaughns scored again on a five-yard run with 5:14 left in the third. The Pumas successfully ran a fake punt play on fourth-and-seven. The hook-and-lateral from Ray Riley to Skyler Seibold was good for a 30-yard gain, setting up a 10-yard scoring run by Harris with 2:14 left. Vaughns scored again on a 21-yard run in the final minute of the quarter to make the score 24-7.

Harris scored one more time in the final quarter, but it was too little too late and the game ended 24-14. Harris ended the night with 63 yards on 16 carries. The Pumas defense allowed the Chargers 358 yards of total offense, but held them to 24 points, well below their 38 points per game average.

Chaparral had won the CIF title in 2010 and were knocked out in the second round by Centennial in 2011.

SWL At-Large Wolfpack lose to Highlanders, 35-6

The Great Oak Wolfpack (5-5, 2-3) earned an at-large berth and lost 35-6 to the #3-seed Upland Highlanders (10-0, 5-0) Baseline League Champion.

Wolfpack Defensive Coordinator Coach Herschel Ramirezí plan was to "play assignment football, control the gaps, mix up coverages and put pressure on the quarterback." After the game he commented, "Our kids played hard and played well against a good team that executed well." Upland Coach Tim Salter also complimented the Wolfpack defense, "They are well-coached and play hard ‚Äď thereís no quit in them." The defense held the Highlanders to 304 total yards; they average 436 yards per game.

Turnovers and penalties have been the constant factors in Wolfpack losses this year. Great Oak had four turnovers and nine penalties in this game. "Bottom line, when you turn the ball over against good teams, itís hard to win," said Great Oak Head Coach Robbie Robinson. Uplandís offense played on a short field most of the night due to Great Oak turnovers.

Great Oak QB Carson Luna engineered a nine-play drive from the 20 that ended with a 41-yard field goal attempt by Keita Calhoun. It was blocked by Adonis Harrison; he also blocked a PAT attempt in the fourth quarter. The Wolfpack defense forced a punt to regain possession. Two plays later an Upland interception of a Luna pass was called back for a penalty, three incomplete passes later, the Wolfpack turned the ball over on downs.

Upland QB Nate Romine (six carries, 19 yards) completed a seven-play drive from the Great Oak 34 with a QB sneak at the 6:55 mark in the second quarter.

Twelve seconds later, Delvin Batiste picked up a Luna fumble and ran it in eight yards for the score and a 21-0 lead. Seconds before the half ended, Tyler Bratton completed a seven-play 35-yard drive with a one-yard score to put the Highlanders up 28-0.

Four minutes into the third quarter, a fumble by Jakob Certeza gave Upland the ball. On the very next play, Romero caught a 20-yard pass up the middle from Romine for Uplandís final touchdown.

Great Oakís only score came on a fumble recovery by safety Garrett Ackerman who carried it 19 yards into the end zone with four minutes to go in the game.

Luna ended with two completions on ten attempts and two interceptions; 52 of his 60 yards were on a first quarter screen pass to Nick Fisher. Certeza had 55 yards on 14 carries; Jonathan Hernandez rushed for 43 yards on ten carries.

"I love these seniors," said Coach Robinson. "I had most of them since they were sophomores." Great Oak graduates 26 seniors this spring.

Boron had come off of a 75-21 win over Silver Valley. This is the Boron defenseís sixth shutout this season. Hamilton had just beaten California Military Institute for the playoff spot. Boron passed for five scores and rushed for four.

The Sharks had won six of their last seven games. The Lions had gone 5-2 after losing its first four games.

Linfield scored first and kept on scoring. QB Austin Hall hit Chasen Crowell (4 catches, 62 yards) with a 23-yard strike for the first score three minutes into the game. Malibu QB Dylan Miller (13-of-29, 181 yards) threw a 21-yard TD pass to Brennan Cassone (11 catches, 187 yards) just before the end of the quarter. The PAT was blocked giving Linfield a 7-6 lead.

Linfield then scored 30 unanswered points on an 8-yard run by Logan Wakefield, a 29-yard field goal by Michael Brown, a one-yard keeper by Hall, and two more rushing TDís by Wakefield (10 and 19 yards).

Wakefieldís three scores came on 19 carries for 144 yards. He has now rushed for over 1000 yards and has 12 TDs on the season. Hall rushed for 34 yards on nine carries. Freshman Lorenzo Burns caught seven passes for 122 yards, including a 63-yard bomb from Hall in the fourth quarter.

Malibuís Miller and Cassone teamed up two more times in the fourth quarter on 11 and 22-yd scoring passes. The combo accounted for all their teamís scoring. Cassone is the #13-ranked receiver in the nation (maxpreps).

Lionsí QB Hall has shown a dramatic improvement in the last three games, completing 63 percent of his passes for 819 yards and six touchdowns. He has also scored four touchdowns rushing in that time. In the previous seven games, Hall completed only 54 percent of his passes for 609 yards and five scores. He followed a 328-yard/two TD performance in the loss against #1 Ontario Christian with a 296-yard/2TD performance in the comeback win against Aquinas. This week he completed 12-of-15 for 196 yards and another 2-TD game.

Hall has had triple digit QB ratings in three of the last four games. The Lions have scored 91 points in the last two games, a feat that took them five games in the beginning of the season.

Qtr Final Playoff Game:

The Lions (5-6) travel to play Banning High School Broncos (10-1, 5-0) Mountain Valley League Champions who are coming off of a 21-3 first round victory over Shadow Hills. The Broncos were 2-8 last year, 3-7 the year before and havenít been to the playoffs since 1977. This is their first full year practicing/playing in their new $19 million sports complex instead of the local middle schoolís pothole-filled field.

Quarterback/running back/receiver/returner/punter Styrone "Sty" Hairston rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in that game ‚Äď over 100 yards and one touchdown below his averages. Hairston is the top rusher in the Southern Section and leads his team and the area with 276 points. He averages 252 yards rushing, 25 yards passing and 4.2 TDs per game. On the season the speedy Hairston has rushed for 2767 yards and 41 touchdowns. He has also caught six passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns.

In the head-to-head matchup with the sectionís #3 rusher, Jacob Taylor from Rim of the World, Hairston rushed for seven touchdowns and 415 of his 521 all-purpose yards. He also rushed for 398 yards on just 14 carries in scoring six TDs against Cathedral City. Banning utilizes a "play fast" philosophy and a spread offense to maximize Hairstonís capabilities that results in numerous quick-strike big-play highlights.

Linfield needs to do just one thing well ‚Äď stop/contain #17 ‚Äď in order to advance to the semifinal round and play the winner of the St. Margaretís vs. Rim of the World matchup.

Crusaders eliminated by Knights, 58-18

The Cornerstone Christian Crusaders were knocked out of the semifinals round of the CIF-SS 8-Man Division II Playoffs by the Knights from Trinity Classical Academy of Valencia (8-2, 3-0) Heritage League Champions by a score of 58-18.

0 comments

Add your Comment

Name

Images, Formatting, or HTML is not allowed : plain text only. You may post up to 5 website addresses within your comment.

Disclaimer

The Valley News has tightened its' policy regarding comments.
While we invite you to contribute your opinions and thoughts, we request that you refrain from using vulgar or obscene words and post only comments that directly pertain to the specific topic of the story or article.
Comments that are derogatory in nature have a high likelihood for editing or non-approval if they carry the possibility of being libelous.
The comment system is not intended as a forum for individuals or groups to air personal grievances against other individuals or groups.
Please, no advertising or trolling.
In posting a comment for consideration, users understand that their posts may be edited as necessary to meet system parameters, or the post may not be approved at all. By submitting a comment, you agree to all the rules and guidelines described here.
Most comments are approved or disregarded within one business day.